Counties come looking for promised money

by Brian Leubitz

The transfer of prisoners and responsibilities from the state to the counties has already begun, but the money? Well, as they say, the check is in the mail.  The counties are beginning to look around anxiously:

California counties are lining up to secure millions of dollars in state funds to expand jails now that Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan is under way to shift the incarceration of some felons from prisons to jails.

But while many county officials cheer the availability of $600 million in state funds to add more jail beds, opponents of prison expansion say building more incarceration space will discourage prosecutors, police and other public safety officials from seeking alternatives to lockups. (SF Gate)

Certainly some counties will at least consider construction of additional beds for their counties rather than triaging the prisoners and releasing and monitoring those that would be better served outside the traditional jail situation.  We have been looking at prisons as solely retribution rather than than how we can improve public safety for far too long.

But, in theory, there is this money, and it is awfully tempting for the counties to take the money and run.